The real question is — how much power does the Ninja 500 produce? Well, the “marginal improvements” don’t stop at the bike’s top speed. The 500’s 451cc twin-cylinder engine produces 51 horsepower at 10,000 rpm and 31.7 lb-ft of torque at 7,500 rpm, compared to the Ninja 400’s 44.8 hp. Again, it’s not a significant improvement, but it’s a subtle enough change to make a difference.
That amount of power under the hood pushes the bike from idle to 60 mph in roughly four seconds. Weighing only 379 lbs., the Ninja 500 should be considerably easy to maneuver, whether redlining or not. Anyone looking for something faster would have to go with the larger Ninja 650, which can go from zero to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds. It’s a beefier bike that produces 68 hp at 8,000 rpm and 47.2 lb-ft of torque at 6,750 rpm. However, that’s a ride better suited for seasoned motorcyclists.
